Corfu to Split: Self-Launched Balkans Overland Adventure

Take the morning ferry from Corfu New Port to Igoumenitsa (~1.5-2 hrs, €11-13 / ~£10). From Igoumenitsa bus station, catch the KTEL bus toward Ioannina/Trikala and connect to Kalambaka (total ~4-5 hrs, ~€25 / £21) — check ktelbus.gr timetables the day before as connections are limited. Check into a guesthouse in Kastraki village, then walk or take a local taxi up to the monasteries for golden-hour views. Great Sunset Rock is a 15-min walk from Kastraki.

🚌Ferry Corfu–Igoumenitsa (~£10) + KTEL regional buses to Kalambaka (~£21)

🛏Guesthouse in Kastraki or Kalambaka, dorm/private budget room (~£22)

• →Corfu–Igoumenitsa ferry
• →Sunset viewpoint over Meteora monasteries
• →Evening walk in Kastraki

Early morning hike or bus up to Meteora to visit 2-3 monasteries on foot (€3 each entry; Great Meteoron closed Tuesdays). Midday bus to Ioannina (~2.5 hrs, ~£10). Spend the afternoon in Ioannina's old town and castle, grab a bougatsa, then take the evening bus to the Greek-Albanian border at Kakavia and onward to Gjirokastër (KTEL Ioannina–Gjirokastër runs most days, ~3 hrs, ~£10; otherwise taxi to border + furgon).

🚌Local bus to Meteora trailhead + KTEL bus Ioannina (~£10) + cross-border bus to Gjirokastër (~£10)

🛏Guesthouse in Gjirokastër old town (~£18)

• →Meteora monastery visits (entry ~£3 each)
• →Ioannina Castle and old town
• →Bougatsa and Greek coffee stop

Self-guided morning at Gjirokastër Castle (entry ~400 lek / £3.50) with its captured aircraft and Cold War tunnel, then wander the cobbled Qafa e Pazarit bazaar and visit the Zekate House, a preserved Ottoman tower house (~£2). In the afternoon walk or take a short taxi to the Cobo/Çobo winery area for a tasting (book direct, ~£8-10). Evening meze in the old town.

🚌On foot; short local taxi to winery (~£4)

🛏Guesthouse in Gjirokastër old town (~£18)

• →Gjirokastër Castle
• →Zekate House
• →Qafa e Pazarit bazaar
• →Wine tasting at a local vineyard

Take a morning furgon or bus from Gjirokastër to Tepelenë/Fier and connect to Berat (~4 hrs total, ~£9). Alternatively a shared minibus direct is often arranged through your guesthouse. Afternoon exploring Berat's Mangalem and Gorica neighbourhoods, the lead-window houses and the riverside promenade. Climb to Berat Castle near sunset for free panoramic views over the 'city of a thousand windows'.

🚌Furgon/bus Gjirokastër–Fier–Berat (~£9)

🛏Guesthouse in Mangalem, Berat (~£16)

• →Gorica neighbourhood walk
• →Berat Castle sunset viewpoint
• →Old town riverside stroll

Long travel day: early bus Berat to Elbasan then Pogradec (~4-5 hrs, ~£10). Hop off at Drilon National Park for a short lakeside walk, then local taxi or bus to Tushemisht (5 min) to buy honey and preserves. Cross into North Macedonia at the lakeside border and reach St. Naum Monastery by taxi or a seasonal boat; entry to the springs park ~150 MKD (~£2). Continue to Ohrid by local bus (~£3).

🚌Intercity buses Berat–Pogradec (~£10) + local taxis/bus (~£6) + Ohrid bus (~£3)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Ohrid old town (~£16)

• →Drilon National Park
• →Tushemisht lakeside village
• →St. Naum Monastery and springs

Morning at the Church of St. John at Kaneo (iconic cliff photo spot, free), Ohrid's Paper Museum (~£2) and a climb to Tsar Samuel's Fortress with the Hellenistic amphitheatre below. Midday local bus to Struga or direct bus to Tirana via Qafë Thanë (~5-6 hrs, ~£12-14). Arrive Tirana, evening stroll around Skanderbeg Square.

🚌Local bus to Ohrid sights + intercity bus to Tirana (~£13)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Blloku/centre, Tirana (~£18)

• →Church of St. John at Kaneo
• →Paper Museum
• →Tsar Samuel's Fortress
• →Skanderbeg Square

DIY self-launched version of the operator's food tour: start at Çam Bazaar for byrek (~£1) and fresh produce, walk to the New Bazaar for cheese, olives and raki tastings, browse the second-hand market, and finish with a traditional Albanian lunch of tavë kosi or fërgesë (~£8). Pre-book a small-group Tirana food walk on GetYourGuide (~£25) if you want a local companion, or simply self-navigate. Free afternoon for the Bunk'Art 2 museum (~£5).

🚌On foot / local city bus (~£2)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Tirana (~£18)

• →Çam Bazaar
• →Tirana New Bazaar tasting
• →Byrek and raki tasting
• →Bunk'Art 2 (optional)

Morning furgon from Tirana to Krujë (~1 hr, ~£2), explore the medieval old bazaar and Kruja Castle with Skanderbeg Museum (~£4). Return to Tirana, then take the afternoon bus to Prizren via the Morina border crossing (~4-5 hrs, ~£13; some services require a change in Kukës). Evening in Prizren's Ottoman quarter — Sinan Pasha Mosque and the fortress above town are free and open late.

🚌Furgon to Krujë (~£2) + bus Tirana–Prizren (~£13)

🛏Guesthouse in Prizren old town (~£16)

• →Krujë Medieval Bazaar
• →Kruja Castle and Skanderbeg Museum
• →Sinan Pasha Mosque
• →Prizren Fortress sunset

Take a morning bus to Gjakova (~1 hr, ~£2.50) for the Grand Bazaar and artisan workshops (saddlery, filigree). Local bus to Deçan to visit the Serbian Orthodox Visoki Dečani Monastery (free, dress modestly). Continue by bus/taxi to Rahovec for a wine tasting at a Stone Castle or Bodrumi i Vjetër winery (~£7-9, book ahead). Return to Prizren by evening bus. Doing this loop independently requires patience with timetables — a shared taxi for the day (~£35 split) is a realistic upgrade.

🚌Local buses Prizren–Gjakova–Deçan–Rahovec (~£7) or shared taxi day hire

🛏Guesthouse in Prizren old town (~£16)

• →Gjakova Grand Bazaar
• →Visoki Dečani Monastery
• →Rahovec wine tasting

Cross back into Albania: bus Prizren to Shkodër via Kukës or via Tirana (~5 hrs, ~£12). Break the journey at Mrizi i Zanave agrotourism farm near Lezhë for a farm tour and slow-food lunch (~£12, reservation essential — pre-book by email). Continue to Shkodër for Rozafa Castle (free entry to grounds, small fee for museum) and the Venetian mask workshop in the old town.

🚌Cross-border bus to Shkodër via Lezhë (~£12) + local taxi to farm (~£5)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Shkodër (~£15)

• →Mrizi i Zanave farm tour and lunch
• →Rozafa Castle
• →Venetian mask workshop

Morning bus from Shkodër to Ulcinj or direct to Budva (~2.5-3 hrs, ~£8 incl. border). Drop bags, then local bus or taxi to the Sveti Stefan viewpoint (the islet is private but the clifftop photo spot is free). Afternoon exploring Budva's walled old town, the Citadela and the Mogren beach path. Evening seafood dinner on the waterfront.

🚌Bus Shkodër–Budva (~£8) + local bus/taxi to Sveti Stefan (~£3)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Budva old town (~£18)

• →Sveti Stefan viewpoint
• →Budva Old Town and Citadela
• →Mogren beach walk

Early bus along the Bay of Kotor to Kotor (~40 min, ~£3), walk the old town and St. Luke's Church, and optionally climb the city walls (~£8) for the classic bay view. Midday bus Kotor–Mostar (~4 hrs, ~£13). In Mostar, detour to Blagaj Tekija (~20 min by local bus/taxi, ~£4) for the spring-side dervish house, then return for sunset on the Stari Most bridge and a wander through the Old Bazaar and Biščevića House.

🚌Bus Budva–Kotor (~£3) + bus Kotor–Mostar (~£13) + local taxi to Blagaj (~£4)

🛏Guesthouse near Mostar old town (~£16)

• →Kotor Old Town and St. Luke's Church
• →Blagaj Tekija
• →Stari Most bridge
• →Biščevića House

Take the scenic morning train Mostar–Sarajevo (~2 hrs, ~£6) — one of Europe's most beautiful rail journeys. Join a pay-what-you-want walking tour of Sarajevo's medieval, Ottoman and war history (tip ~£8) or self-walk the Latin Bridge, Baščaršija bazaar and the Tunnel of Hope. Turkish coffee at Caffe Divan or anywhere in the bazaar (~£2). Return by evening train or bus to Mostar.

🚌Train Mostar–Sarajevo return (~£11)

🛏Guesthouse near Mostar old town (~£16)

• →Mostar–Sarajevo scenic train
• →Sarajevo free walking tour (tip)
• →Latin Bridge
• →Baščaršija bazaar

Final transfer. Bus Mostar–Split (~4-5 hrs via Neum/croatian coast, ~£18-20); for Dubrovnik take the bus to Trebinje or a direct service (~3 hrs, ~£15). Arrive with time for a walk around Diocletian's Palace or the Dubrovnik walls before onward flights. End of the self-launched route.

🚌Bus Mostar–Split (~£19) or Mostar–Dubrovnik (~£15)

🛏Not included — hostel in Split if extending (~£25)

• →Diocletian's Palace, Split
• →Riva waterfront promenade